On 14th October 1920 Christopher Vane 10th Baron Barnard [aged 31] and Sylvia Mary Straker Baroness Barnard [aged 22] were married at St Agatha's Church, Gilling West [Map]. She by marriage Baroness Barnard.
From the Darlington & Stockton Times of October 16, 1920:
"The weather was beautifully fine, with brilliant sunshine showing to advantage the autumn tints of the well wooded countryside," began the lengthy report. "Although difficult to access, Gilling was early a scene of activity with motor coaches, motor cars and other means of conveyance converging on the village in the rapid succession. The lengthy highway through the village was thronged with motor vehicles and the queue of cars was finally over half a mile in length."
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"The bride was charmingly attired in old parchment duchesse satin, skirt artistically draped, with corsage of softly blended chiffon, embroidered in fine diamanti," said the paper, recording every single sartorial detail. "The Court train was of white and gold brocade, weighted at hem and sides with bands of cloth of gold tissue, held in place by two handsome gold and diamanti ornaments…"
The D&S said how after the reception at the Grange, the couple motored to London and then honeymooned on their Shropshire estate.
"The bride's travelling dress was of Indian red crepe de chine, finely pleated skirt and long travelling coat of Indian red velour cloth trimmed with natural racoon," it said.
It then devoted thousands of words to a list of wedding presents. Suffice to say that the happy couple would never again go short of fish knives and cigar cases, cigar cutters and cigarette holders.
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